Draw-through stopper for vacuum bottles or the like



Feb. 14, 1961 R. H. JACOB 2,971,664

DRAW-THROUGH STOPPER FOR VACUUM BOTTLES OR THE LIKE Filed Feb. 17, 1959INVENTOR. ROB ERT H. JACOB United States Patent DRAW-THROUGH STOPPER FORVACUUM BOTTLES OR THE LIKE The present invention relates to stoppers forbottles, particularly vacuum bottles, and is especially concerned with adraw-through stopper which permits drinking or sipping of liquidcontents out of the bottle while the stopper remains on the bottle.

In recent years cork stoppers which were at one time exclusively usedfor vacuum bottles have been replaced by stoppers of rubber orartificial plastic materials because the latter materials can be keptfresh and clean, while cork frequently absorbs and retains unpleasanttastes and odors, such as result from foods turned acid or rancid.However, in order to consume the contents of a vacuum bottle it isnecessary to remove not only the stopper, but also the outer cap whichfrequently serves as a drinking cup. The handling of two differentclosures is somewhat cumbersome, especially for small children. While itis easy for children to remove the outer closure or cup, it is dilficultfor many of them to remove the rubber stopper which is often held in bysuction. Moreover, the hands of small children are not sufiicientlysteady for pouring liquids out of bottles.

In accordance with the present invention these difiiculties areeliminated by a draw-through stopper which is provided with an apertureadapted to receive a drinking straw which extends downwardly into thebottle and a movable mouth piece having a tubular portion movable intoalignment with said aperture thereby permitting removal of the contentsof the bottle by suction through said straw, said aperture and saidtubular portion.

It is an object of the invention to provide a sanitary draw-throughstopper which makes it unnecessary to remove the stopper of the bottlefor the purpose of emptying the contents. v

It is a further object of the invention to provide a drawthrough stopperhaving a member movable into a drinking position and into a position ofclosure.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a stopper whichpermits emptying of the contents of the bottle while allowing air toenter the bottle to fill the space vacated by the liquid.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent froma study of the following description and the illustrations appearing inthe accompanying drawings, where like reference numerals refer tocorresponding parts and in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top view of the movable draw-through member forming part ofthe embodiment according to Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the embodiment in accordance with Fig. 1,taken along section line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the draw-through member illustratedin Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an end view of the draw-through member taken from the right ofFig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the invention,and

ice

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of this alternate embodiment taken along theline 7-7 in Fig. 6.

The draw-through stopper which is generally indicated at 1 comprises astopper member 2 and a draw-through member 3. The stopper is providedwith a raised center and bearing portion 4, on which the support member3 is pivoted. A first orifice 5 is provided in the stopper 2 centrallyof member 3. The orifice 5 is of a size to receive a drinking straw witha snug fit. A second orifice 6 extends through the stopper and throughthe supporting member which provides for air admission into the bottleon which the stopper is seated while the contents of the bottle is beingemptied through the straw and through the stopper.

The raised bearing portion 4 of the stopper presents two side members 8defining a substantially semicircular cavity 8a to receive member 3therebetween. Two small prongs 9 extend laterally of member 3 intocorresponding recesses 9a defined in the members 8 to provide pivotalbearing support for member 3 in raised bearing portion 4 of stoppermember 2.

Member 3 is preferably arranged to be movable into the two positionsindicated in Fig. 3. In the position shown in solid lines, orifices 5and 6 are covered by the arcuate solid portion of member 3 so as toclose said orifices. In the position indicated in dashed lines, orifices5 and 6 are in alignment with tubular passages it and 11, respectively,defined in member 3, thereby permitting the user to place the mouthpiece 12 between his lips in order to withdraw the contents of thebottle, to which the draw-through stopper is attached, by suction in amanner similar to drinking by means of a straw. For this position of themember 3, air is permitted to enter the bottle or container throughpassages 11 and 6.

Member 3 may be provided with a gripping tab 13 which may be graspedbetween two fingers in order to swing said member around pivots 9, 9ainto closing position as shown in solid lines or into position for useas indicated in dashed lines. Gripping tab 13 may be constructed topresent two shoulders 14 and 15 which are especially useful when thedevice is used by children to permit accurate positioning of member 3 inthe open and closed positions, respectively.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 thestopper member 2 is preferably made of a softer material such as rubberor artificial plastic while draw-through member 3 is preferredto be of aharder plastic which will readily slide on the soft rub-ber.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 6 and 7 is of generallysimpler construction than that according to Figs. 1 to 5. Here thegripping tab 13 is replaced by a shoulder member 16 flared upwardly andto the right as indicated in Fig. 6. The draw-through member 3 ismanipulated into positions of closure and operation by grasping themouth piece 12. When member 3 is turned to a position from that shown inFig. 6 shoulder 16 touches the shoulders defined by members 8 and theorifices 5 and 6 are aligned with tubular passages 10 and 11,respectively.

The stopper member 2 of the soft plastic material is of differentdesign, bulging downwardly to conform with the curved portion 8a, andthe mouth piece 12 is readily accessible for manipulation as the upperportion of the stopper is flared outwardly.

Numerous other variations of the device are readily conceivable all ofwhich may incorporate the principle of the invention without departingfrom the inventive concept. For example, the stopper member 2 mayalternately be provided with a downwardly extending skirt portion asgenerally indicated in dotted lines at 17, in Fig. 6. This adapts thedevice for use on a glass bottle such as used for carbonated beverages.In that event the upper flanged portion of the stopper, is of course,omitted.

it is also within the scope ofthe invention to make the stopper memberof inexpensive cardboard or 'the like and the draw-through of a somewhatharder material such as harder plastic, wood, metal, or even of anedible substance such as sugar or candy in order to make thedraw-through stopper expendable.

Embodiments of the invention illustrating the structural features andoperation have been described hereinabove while the scope of theprotection to be covered by Letters Patent is set forth in the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. A draw-through closure, comprising a generally cupshaped stopperadapted to be received in the mouth of a vacuum bottle or the like, saidstopper having a generally cylindrical side wall and a bottom wallextending across the lower end thereof, said side wall and said bottomwall defining an upwardly opening cavity in said stopper, means on theupper side of said bottom wall forming an upwardly facing arcuatelycurved valve seat, said bottom wall having a first substantiallyvertical passage extending therethrough from said valve seat, adraw-through member having an arcuately curved valve face slidablyengaging said valve seat, a tubular spout mounted on and extending fromsaid draw-through member, said member and said spout having a boreextending from said curved valve face and through said member and saidspout, means rotatably mounting said draw-through member in said cavityof said stopper for swinging movement with said curved valve faceengaging said curved valve seat, said draw-through member beingswingable between an open position in which said spout is generallyvertical and said bore is aligned with said first passage and a closedposition in which said spout is generally horizontal and saiddraw-through member closes said first passage, and psasage means in saiddraw-through member and said bottom wall of said stopper and movableinto mutual registration when said draw-through member is in said openposition for admitting air through said stopper, said draw-throughmember being of less height and Width than said cavity and beingentirely received within the confines of said cavity, said spout beingof greater height than said cavity to project above said side wall whensaid spout is in said generally vertical position, said spout being ofless radial extent than the radial extent of said cavity and beingentirely received within the confines of said cavity when said spout isin said generally horizontal position.

2. A draw-through closure, comprising a generally cup-shaped stopperadapted to be received in the mouth of a vacuum bottle or the like, saidstopper having a generally cylindrical side wall and a bottom wallextending across the lower end thereof, said side wall and said bottomwall defining an upwardly opening cavity in said stopper, means on theupper side of said bottom Wall forming an upwardly facing arcuatelycurved valve seat, said bottom wall having a first substantiallyvertical passage extending there-through from said valve seat, a

draw-through member having an arcuately curved valve face slidablyengaging said valve seat, a tubular spout mounted on and extending fromsaid draw-through member, said member and said spout having a boreextending from said curved valve face and through said member and saidspout, means rotatably mounting said drawthrough member in said cavityof said stopper for swinging movement with said curved valve faceengaging said curved valve seat, said draw-through member beingswingable between an open position in which said spout is generallyvertical and said bore is aligned with said first passage and a closedposition in which said spout is generally longitudinal and saiddraw-through member closes said first passage, and passage means in saiddrawthrough member and said bottom wall of said stopper and movable intomutual registration when said drawthrough member is in said openposition for admitting air through said stopper, said draw-throughmember being of less height and width than said cavity and beingentirely received within the confines of said cavity, said spout beingof greater heightthan said cavity to project above said side wall whensaid spout is in said generally vertical position, said spout being ofless radial extent than the radial extent of said cavity and beingentirely received within the confines of said cavity when said spout isin said generally horizontal position, said draw-through member having atab projecting therefrom generally at right angles to said spout andextending upwardly when said spout is in said generally horizontalposition so as to be readily accessible for manual grasping andmanipulation to move said draw-through member to said open position.

References Cited in. the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

